Chicken & Mashed Potatoes

For weeks now I have been thinking it would be fun to cook for the guys and Michael. I think it's because every time I look at Sheema (flour cooked with water) all I think it mashed potatoes… from there I end up thinking about Thanksgiving! My favorite meal is a typical Thanksgiving meal. 

I head to town with Nunu and I'm surprised to find how empty it is. We wonder all over trying to find what I'm looking for. The best part was when we were at this little shop buying chickens I was going over what else we needed out loud… butter, bread, potatoes, etc. I look at a box and it says "Amanda!" Why is it so exciting to find things with our names on it?! I ask Nunu to find out what it is and it's butter! I was planning on buying it no matter what it was, but I even needed it.

I get to the house and start thawing out my birds. The water is off, so I have to go to the well to get water and I have to boil it so I don't get sick. I get everything going, my birds in the oven. The kitchen is 109! I step outside and I feel like I'm walking into air-conditioning! My potatoes only need a little bit longer to be done and I'm gonna have to watch the birds, since the stove setting are just low to high. 

I glance at the stove and realize that the flame under the potatoes had gone out. I try relighting and get nothing. It takes a minute for it to click that the stove is hooked into a gas tank that sits under the sink and it must be out. I search the garage, there are other cans but they all appear to be empty. 

This is something you can't just run out and grab, not to mention Michael isn't home. I tell the guys what is happening and they tell me to cook the stuff on the charcoal stove. I know you can cook a chicken on the grill, but not with the supplies they have here. 

Since I had just put the birds in the oven minutes before the gas ran out, I decide to just bag everything and cook it later. If we can get gas in time… if not I figure I will just let the guys cook it how they like.

I try not to ask much of Michael, because everyone asks the world of Michael and I know it's stressful. So I'm surprised after church on Sunday when he asks if I want to go get gas. I'm actually thrilled because the power had just gone out and I knew we would have to cook the birds today.

We get the gas. I cook the food and Michael, Sumate, Nunu, Santos, Ernesto and I sit around eating in the Kitchen eating chicken and mashed potatoes. We also had corn and bread but those are very normal here. It's fun to be able to share some of my life with them… especially cause they all love chicken!